Delhi Government to provide free LPG connections to 3.75 families

With reference to the announcement made in the Delhi Budget 2012-13, the State Cabinet on June 20 approved the new scheme for providing free Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections. Free LPG connections as well as stoves will be provided to nearly 3.57 lakh families who use kerosene.

For this the government has to incur and expenditure of Rs. 85.54 lakh crore on this scheme, which will also help in the reduction of pollution in the city and will also put an end to the diversion of kerosene oil supplies from the Public Distribution System.

Chief Minister Shiela Dixit, after a meeting with the Cabinet announced that the scheme will be implemented from August 15, 2012 and will strive to make Delhi the first Kerosene free city. According to the new scheme, the government of Delhi will provide one time financial assistance to the families possessing Below Poverty Line (BPL), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Jhuggi Relocation Colonies (JRC) rations cards in purchasing the LPG connection and gas stove.

Haroon Yusuf, the Delhi Food and Supplies Minister said as per e-PDS data base there are about 356,395 families who have been using kerosene oil for cooking purposes. At present all the families are entitled to get 12.5 litres of kerosene oil per month at the rate of Rs. 14.83 per litre.